Brendon Cannon has come in for a bucket of criticism lately for his off-the-wall comments on Timana Tahu and the Melbourne Rebels but I agree with all of them.
Don’t you just get sick of the same old hacks soft-focussing around subjects, too scared to tell it how it is (not withstanding the defamation laws that is).
Canno went straight for the throat like a good former front rower should. Ken of Kensington be afraid, be very afraid.
I can’t wait for Canno to tell us what he thinks about Colin Love’s hair, Danny Cipriani’s girlfriend or Kevin Rudd’s integrity?
Let’s face it, Timana Tahu IS a space cadet, peanut, pelican, impostor, mercenary and muppet. He was no loss to rugby union when he scuttled back to mungoland with his tail (was that his dodgy hammies I can hear twanging?) between his legs.
The poodle-faking sook couldn’t make it in union, or should I say didn’t have the intestinal fortitude to stick it out and become a success.
It’s one thing not having the talent to quite succeed at this level but its another matter entirely to have the talent but not the ticker, or have one the size of the aforementioned peanut.
He was given a Wallaby jersey ‘on spec’ by those who should have known better. They thought they were buying a road tested 2007 Alfa Romeo GT, but they ended up with a 1967 Mk1 Morris Minor with broken wing mirrors and a governor.
It’s anathema to rugby’s culture warriors that flakes like Tahu can flit in and out of our game with ease – surely its time to put the brakes on that. As Winston Churchill once said “why do we always fail to learn the lessons of history”.
I don’t know what you think about Izzy Folau and his attempt to bump up his bargaining price Canno, but it seemed to get a few hearts racing in the rugby community that this wunderkind would be the next great white hope like ummm…..Wendell Sailor…..or Lote Tuqiri…..or ummm Timana Tahu, perhaps?
History suggests that all of these guys were far from risk free. Most leagueys are just trying to crank up their price (it worked in this case) so I think the outcome was fairly predictable.
The guy doesn’t even like rugby union. Then again, why would you want to join the Melbourne Rebels with a lineup like that?
Canno let loose on the Rebels’ signings this week and he’s right. He also questioned Rod McQueen’s time out of the game as potentially a factor, a position that I’ve also written about in the past.
They’re going to be in all sorts of trouble next year if they aren’t able to secure some experienced internationals.
I’m concerned about their susceptibility to injury with some of these guys.
Stirling Mortlock was a champion and a leader, but he spends the majority of his time off the park these days.
Adam Freier is another who’s morphed into ‘injury prone’ territory. Greg Somerville is a good signing but has had a number of major injuries in the past couple of years, a broken arm in March the most recent.
Of their 14 forwards signed to date, at least six or seven you’d describe as journeymen, three are untried youngsters – take away Freier (who’ll be on the sideline more often than not) and that leaves who? Maybe Delve, Lipman and Weeks.
This is not a situation that will inspire fear in anyone. The Western Force will be licking their lips when it comes time to play the Rebels.
In the backs you’ve got a similar situation. A leaguey and youngsters who’ve yet to find their feet and Australia’s slowest fullback (Gerardo).
I don’t think he would have gotten faster in Japanese 2nd Division rugby, do you?
The prodigiously talented Danny Cipriani is another flake according to some of his former teammates (I’m really looking forward to his girlfriend’s spread in Playboy though) and as for Sam Cordingly, well – hasn’t he retired yet?
Julian Huxley will be an asset but Jimmy Hilgendorf is another rugby journeyman. Do you get the picture?
They’ve still got 7 or 8 senior signings to go. Where are your millions Big ‘Arold? The report card to date: “Could do better”.
Canno saw this and didn’t hold back. He’s obviously got a talent for straight shooting. Go after a few sacred cows next Brendon.
I like the cut of your jib. Keep on sinking ships…..
